The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1887-08-22
DANCING STRIKERS
Who ssay the Employers Shall Pay
the Fiddler.
State of the Trouble at the Augusta a
Cotton Mills.
Labor Commissioner Matthews's
Action Regarding Strikes.

AUGUSTA, Aug. 20.-The condit ion of the
weavers' strike at the Edwards Co.'s mill is
practically unchanged. There seem to be
no signs of weakening on either side. The
management of the mill say they will close
the factories before they will yield, and the
weavers have made arrangements to contin-
ue the strike next week. They say an agent
of mill from out of town has been here and
contracted for the labor of the families be-
longing to the strikers, and they will de-
mand their pay Of the company and leave
the city, The strikers engage in dance
every forenoon, and in the afternoon they
meet to talk over affairs They have made
arrangements to continue these next week.
The latest statement of the disagreement
between Superintendent Cole and the weav-
ers is that Mr.. Cole promised if the commit
tee which went out found any place in
Maine where more was paid for the same
class of work than at Augusta their wages
should be raised accordingly; but the strik-
ers say his agreement was that if any mill
was found out of the State or in it, the em-
ployes of which made better pay, then their
wages should be increased A mill in Paw
tucket and another in Amesbury were found
paying a slight advance over Augusta prices,
and as the Edwards Company would not pay
the advance the weavers went out.
Labor Commissioner Matthews has been
investigating the Augusta strike and con-
versng with some of the employees. He has
prepared lists of questions which he sends
out TO manufacturers and strikers in case of
strikes, both lists being similar, to obtain
the statements of both sides in regard to the
strike, what caused it, etc. Following are
some of the questions taken from manu-
facturer's list which are almost precisely
like those asked strikers:
What demands, if any, were made on the part
Of the employees? Were they acceded to by your
firm? What demands, If any. were made on the
part of your firm? Were they acceded to by
your employees? How many, If any, old employees
were refused work after the strike or lockout
ended? What was rate of wages previous to
strike or lockout, per day? If piece-work, what
What was rate of wages finally agreed upon?
What was the total loss to employees in wages, as
result of strike or lockout? Has the reduction
of the hours of labor resulted in diminution of
production? If so, to what extent? As result of
strike was your firm unable to fill any existing
contracts? What was the loss to the firm from
this cause? AS a result of strike was your firm
obliged TO refuse any new contract? What was
the loss from this cause? As a result of strike
was any portion of your trade diverted to other
manufacturers or States? Estimated loss? What
was the approximate amount OF loss, If any, by
reason of Injury to goods or machinery by strik-
ing employees? What was the approximately the
loss. if any, to goods or machinery occasioned by
lack of experience on the part of new employees?
Were any of the employees taking the places of
the strikers assaulted, and if so, how many?
Were such assaulting parties arrested2 What
disposition was made of the cases? Was your
firm ''boycotted," and if so, what was the result?
Has the "boycott'' been discontinued? Has your
firm ever made any discrimination between un-
ion and non-union employees?